“You know, there is a lot of supernatural stuff in this world that no one has got a clue about”, Seth said while munching a super-deluxe-sandwich with several layers of ham, salad, tomatoes, chilli and chicken.

“Except for those of you and the vampires?” Ashley said and raised an eyebrow.

“Yep”, Seth answered. “’Course, I haven’t found out what other stuff there is as well, but now when we’re in England, perhaps I’ll head north after this and search for Nessie.”

He grinned and Ashley smiled back at him. At the same time, Carlisle came walking down the stairs and sat down beside her.

“The others are back in our house now”, he said. “As soon as Seth is finished, we’ll go there and talk to them.”

“I’m sure that things will work out”, Seth said, taking another large bite. “I mean, with this kind of army on your side, there’s no way that that guy will get away.”

Carlisle shuddered at the mentioning of an army. He didn’t want to look at his big family and the wolves as a war-machine. Ashley stroke his arm gently and smiled comfortingly.

“Wow, you really are the perfect match!” Seth said and grinned. Ashley blushed.

“Finish up now”, she muttered. Carlisle chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head. Seth quickly put the last piece of the sandwich in his mouth.

“’Right, shall we?”

He gestured dramatically towards the door and Carlisle nodded, helping Ashley to rise even though there was no real reason for it. Except for that he cared deeply about her and wanted to feel her there.

The others had already gathered in the living-room, which looked extremely crowded with all of the large boys that were the coven of wolves. Several of them fixed their eyes on Ashley when she walked in; they hadn’t met her before and were interested in seeing what kind of human that had mended Carlisle’s heart. Some of them grinned at her, but fell silent when Edward eyed them.

“Carlisle, we didn’t get Raver last night”, he said, not wanting to wait. “We got fourteen of the newborns all in all, but Raver slipped away.”

Carlisle nodded.

“We need to keep guarding the house and the surroundings until we get him”, the boy that was Jacob continued. “We will split up in groups and make sure that the newborns and Raver are taken care of.”

“I do not…”

“Carlisle, I know”, Edward interrupted. “But if we do not get him and his gang, there will not be some kind of happy ever after, and you know that.”

Carlisle looked away.

“Would it help if I was out there?” Ashley suddenly asked. All eyes turned towards her. Edward gritted his teeth towards Jasper.

“Don’t…”

“It might”, Jasper interrupted, ignoring the fact that Edward didn’t like the idea. “Bella put out a trail for the newborns to follow when an army like this was attacking back in Forks. It was a smart tactic.”

“Raver is older and wiser than Victoria”, Edward hissed. “He will look past it and try and follow another scent that he knows will lead him to Ashley, if that’s what he wants.”

“That should be Doc”, Seth said.

“Bella, use your shield now”, Alice suddenly said. Everyone turned towards her, surprised.

“Do it!” Alice exclaimed. Ashley thought that nothing happened, but something must have because Alice calmed down once again.

“What did you see?” Carlisle asked.

“Raver is on his way here”, Alice answered. “Alone; he’s killed all of the newborns.”

“Why would he do that?” Jacob asked. “He had a good group of people following his lead!”

“He didn’t find them useful after last night”, Alice answered. “He’s coming here to speak to us. But he won’t speak if we’re in here.”

Edward nodded and rose.

“We’ll go outside”, he said.

“The wolves should position themselves around the area in case he attacks us, but Bella must be able to protect them”, Jasper continued. Alice nodded.

“Yes, if that’s what we do, he will come here and tell us what he wants. He’ll be here in ten minutes.”

There was a sudden movement in the room and everyone tried to get outside again. Some of the boys changed shape as soon as they got outside the door and moved to take their positions, told by Jacob and the large, black wolf, Sam.

The Cullens and Ashley positioned themselves in front of the house, all of them eying the forest. Ashley was never able to detect when he got there, suddenly he just stood there just outside the trees. She felt her heart race and the Cullens positioned themselves around her to protect her.

“Carlisle, my son, I do not come here to fight you”, Raver said. “That was my intentions yesterday, yes, but no longer.”

“Then what do you want, Raver?” Carlisle asked. Raver seemed surprise by the fact that he got a question in return instead of the usual agreement. Bella grinned.

“Carlisle, you can no longer keep this family together”, Raver continued after a while. “The Volturi won’t let you.”

(I know, short chapter, but still…)